verb HSK 4
Traditional 爭吵
zhēng chǎo
to quarrel · to argue · to bicker

Meaning

争吵 means to quarrel or argue, typically in a heated or emotional way. It describes verbal disputes between people, often involving raised voices and strong disagreement. The word suggests a more intense level of disagreement than simple discussion, but less serious than physical fighting.

Usage

This verb is commonly used to describe arguments between family members, friends, couples, or coworkers. It carries a somewhat negative connotation and implies an unproductive or emotionally charged exchange. Often paired with 和 (hé) to indicate who you're arguing with: 和某人争吵.

Examples

  1. 01
    他们经常为了小事争吵
    Tāmen jīngcháng wèile xiǎo shì zhēng chǎo.
    They often quarrel over trivial matters.
  2. 02
    我不想和你争吵,我们冷静地谈一谈吧。
    xiǎng zhēng chǎo, wǒmen lěngjìng de tán yi tán ba.
    I don't want to quarrel with you, let's talk calmly.

Characters

Measure words

  • 一次争吵
  • chǎng一场争吵

Common collocations

  • 和...争吵
    ... zhēng chǎo
    to quarrel with...
  • 争吵不休
    zhēng chǎo xiū
    to quarrel endlessly
  • 为...争吵
    wèi ... zhēng chǎo
    to quarrel over/about...
  • 停止争吵
    tíng zhǐ zhēng chǎo
    to stop quarreling

Antonyms

Origin

The combination of 争 (to compete/contend) and 吵 (noisy/quarrel) creates a compound meaning that emphasizes the contentious and loud nature of arguing.

Related